Note: Javascript is disabled or is not supported by your browser. For this reason, some items on this page will be unavailable. For more information about this message, please visit this page: About CDC.gov.

Periodontal Disease

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal diseases are mainly the results of infections and inflammation of the gums and bone that surround and support the teeth. In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums can become swollen and red, and they may bleed. In its more serious form, called periodontitis, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or even fall out. Periodontal disease is mostly seen in adults. Periodontal disease and tooth decay are the two biggest threats to dental health.

A recent CDC report1 provides the following data related to prevalence of periodontitis in the U.S.:

47.2% of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease.

Periodontal Disease increases with age, 70.1% of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease.

This condition is more common in men than women (56.4% vs 38.4%), those living below the federal poverty level (65.4%), those with less than a high school education (66.9%), and current smokers (64.2%)

Causes

Bacteria in the mouth infect tissue surrounding the tooth, causing inflammation around the tooth leading to periodontal disease. When bacteria stay on the teeth long enough, they form a film called plaque, which eventually hardens to tartar, also called calculus. Tartar build-up can spread below the gum line, which makes the teeth harder to clean. Then, only a dental health professional can remove the tartar and stop the periodontal disease process.

Warning signs

The following are warning signs of periodontal disease:

Bad breath or bad taste that won't go away

Red or swollen gums

Tender or bleeding gums

Painful chewing

Loose teeth

Sensitive teeth

Gums that have pulled away from your teeth

Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

Any change in the fit of partial dentures

Risk factors

Certain factors increase the risk for periodontal disease:

Smoking

Diabetes

Poor oral hygiene

Stress

Heredity

Crooked teeth

Underlying immuno-deficiencies—e.g., AIDS

Fillings that have become defective

Taking medications that cause dry mouth

Bridges that no longer fit properly

Female hormonal changes, such as with pregnancy or the use of oral contraceptives

Prevention and treatment

Gingivitis can be controlled and treated with good oral hygiene and regular professional cleaning. More severe forms of periodontal disease can also be treated successfully but may require more extensive treatment. Such treatment might include deep cleaning of the tooth root surfaces below the gums, medications prescribed to take by mouth or placed directly under the gums, and sometimes corrective surgery.

To help prevent or control periodontal diseases, it is important to:

Brush and floss every day to remove the bacteria that cause gum disease.

See a dentist at least once a year for checkups, or more frequently if you have any of the warning signs or risk factors mentioned above.

If you can't afford dental care, you may be able to find help through the following sources:

What is the CDC doing about periodontal disease?

The CDC is currently working with key partner organizations such as the American Academy of Periodontology and the American Dental Association to improve and sustain surveillance of periodontal disease in the adult U.S. population. The efforts of the CDC include (1) developing measures for use in surveillance of periodontal disease at the state and local levels, (2) improving the validity of prevalence estimates derived from the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) by improving the accuracy of the clinical examination protocols used in this national survey, and (3) developing simple measures for screening for periodontal disease in clinical settings.

For additional background related to CDC activities, please click on the links listed:

CDC collaborations related to periodontal disease and diabetes

The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) is a joint program of the CDC and the NIH (National Institutes of Health). The CDC regularly collaborates with a workgroup within NDEP called PPOD (Pharmacy, Podiatry, Optometry, and Dental Professionals). PPOD develops and promotes materials to educate patients and fellow dental professionals on the disease and how to prevent a major complication that often results from having diabetes—periodontal disease.